IMPORTANT INFO FOR ALL USVI RESIDENTS AND NON-RESIDENT PROPERTY OWNERS

I don't believe Sen O'Reilly is an attorney; I believe she was a legal assistant for Felice Quigley

Her biographical information indicates she was a paralegal specializing in real estate law.

I would expect Senator O'Reilly would know the law

That was your first mistake

No, my first mistake was thinking anyone cared.

Congratulations, 400 views of this post and 3 signatures got added to the petition. I think I'm done trying to help. My life is good. I don't need the negativity.

No, my first mistake was thinking anyone cared.

Its not that nobody cares...its that we all know nothing meaningful is going to change so why bother trying. Life is short, why stress about other people's problems?

Here is an excerpt from an IRB document on VI taxes:

"CUSTOMS DUTIES Custom duties in the Virgin Islands are imposed under the U.S. Customs law and are administered by the Customs Service, a division of the U.S. Treasury Department. Customs duties are generally imposed at the rate of six percent ad valorem on all articles, goods, merchandise, and commodities that are manufactured or that originate outside the territorial 18 sovereignty of the United States and are brought into the Virgin Islands. However, the Virgin Islands Legislature has the authority to reduce the customs duties, and has exempted certain tourist and construction items from all custom duties. Certain other exemptions apply, including exemptions stemming from Danish law."

Here's the link to the entire document:

http://www.vibir.gov/pdfs/Tax_Structure_2012.pdf

http://virginislandsdailynews.com/news/v-i-government-reaches-agreement-with-customs-over-duties-1.1815321

The above statement by vicanuck is typical of the APATHY in the VI.
It reminds me of a quote:

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
Edmund Burke

I applaud vroberge for doing his part for something he believes.
I didn't sign the petition because I don't agree with it and not because I don't care what happens here in the islands.

I do, very much, despite the frustrations in doing so.
I don't think that people should be ridiculed for posting a petition.

Gators mom, thanks for that post. it was worth the read.

Alana 33, thanks for your comments.

It's not apathy that keeps me from signing the petition. I just don't sign online petitions because they rarely have any effect, other than all-to-frequently spamming my inbox after I sign (especially Care2). I do thank you, vroberge, for bringing this up. I had no clue there was an issue here.

I think your wrong.
Many petitions have been the catalyst for great changes and will continue to be.

The bottom line is that the VI government had no say in duty amounts or revocation of duties. The Legislator is wrong.

If we lose the duties, won't we lose the CBP Officers?

Will we then lose the preclearance at our airports?

I'm not sure I want to sign.

No, we will not lose our Customs officers. They do a LOT more than collect duties. Things that protect you every day that you tske for granted.

Besides, it had already been pointed out that Customs decides what and how much to collect, not the VIG.

CruzanIron... you are wrong on both counts.

Notably CBP does NOT decide what and how much to collect. Law 64 is the law of the land. Which is due to expire in the next couple of years.

LOL.....I'm wrong about losing our Customs officers? Really?

They are just going to all go away?

Care to tell me why?

You're wrong about who decides custom duties and what I take for granted.